Hamas delegation leaves Gaza via Egypt: sources

09:12, March 04, 2011

A high-ranking Hamas delegation left the Gaza Strip on Thursday, embarking on an Arab tour for the first time since Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stepped down amid unrest in Egypt, sources said.

The delegation, which was led by Mahmoud Zahar, a member of the Islamic movement's politburo and included Khalil al-Haya, another political bureau member, and justice minister in the deposed Hamas government Mohammed al-Ghoul, left via the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, Hamas sources told Xinhua.

The three plan to visit Sudan and Syria in which the politburo of the Gaza ruler Hamas is based. It is not known whether the delegation will meet with any Egyptian officials.

It had been difficult for Hamas officials to travel through Rafah, the only gate for the Gazans to the outside world, when Mubarak was Egypt's president.